Recycling cannabinoid extractor

Abstract

A process and apparatus for extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plant material plant material and for transporting low concentrations of cannabinoids in a solution of solvent includes at least a solvent tank, a hopper, and one or more pumps. Plant material may be soaked, washed, and / or rinsed with a solvent that extracts essential elements from cannabis plant matter. The process minimally includes filling a hopper with plant mater, moving solvent from a solvent tank to the hopper, and moving solvent back to the solvent tank after an extraction. The best mode of the invention extracts cannabinoids and / or cannabis related essential elements from the cannabis plant matter and stores it in a solvent bath in a low density per unit volume of the solvent.

Description

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT[0001]Not ApplicableSEQUENCE LISTING[0002]Not ApplicableCROSS SECTION TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0003]NoneBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]In past years various mechanisms for extracting essential elements from raw plant material have been researched by professional scientists, until recently the extraction of medicinal compounds from cannabis has been limited to small scale extractions by authorized scientists in the academic realm or has been performed clandestinely by individuals operating outside the law.[0005]With the advent of legalizing the medicinal use of cannabis in 16 states the extraction of medicinal compounds from cannabis plant material in large volumes is in demand. The most significant driver for this demand are the increasing bodies of research showing tangible benefits to individuals suffering from a plurality of ailments when using medicinal cannabis. Furthermore no toxic or overdose effects from the use of cannabis have been medically docu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]After the extraction process is complete the cannabis plant material contains little or no medicinal compounds as the solvent has extracted or stripped the medicinal compounds from the cannabis plant material. The extracted cannabis plant material may then be used as mulch without wasting medicinal cannabinoids. Processing cannabis in this manner prevents cannabinoids in from being diverted into elicit or illegal markets and can keep cannabinoids within a legal system.

[0181]Vacuum assisted priming the solvent pump FP may be performed by providing vacuum to the top of the hopper H through vacuum hose 1 VH1 near the output of the solvent pump FP, and by providing pressure the solvent tank ST through vacuum hose 3 VH3. Liquid solvent will tend to pushed up pipe P that feeds the solvent pump FP and vacuum applied near the output of the solvent pump FP will tend to suck solvent through the pump reducing the amount of work that the solvent pump FP pump needs to do to prime itself. Typically the vacuum pump VP will be turned off before the solvent pump FP is started.

Problems solved by technology

In past years various mechanisms for extracting essential elements from raw plant material have been researched by professional scientists, until recently the extraction of medicinal compounds from cannabis has been limited to small scale extractions by authorized scientists in the academic realm or has been performed clandestinely by individuals operating outside the law.

Because of this high valuation an extraction derived from a large amount of cannabis in concentrate is a target for theft and abuse.

This is because there is little to no market for leaf or stems because medicinal cannabis patients do not prefer leaf or stems.

Utilizing leaf matter as mulch may be considered by some as a non-medicinal use of cannabis, and may be in violation of California law.

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